Archive for the ‘Our Lady’ Category

October is a month in the Catholic Church dedicated to praying the Rosary. The Rosary itself is an opportunity to meditate on the life of Jesus. The Rosary is broken down into 4 Mysteries and then 5 decades for each Mystery:

On the large bead, meditate on the first mystery and pray the Our Father.

You pray mysteries for each of the five sections (decades) of the rosary according to the day of the week:

Mondays and Saturdays:

The Joyful Mysteries remind the faithful of Christ’s birth: The Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38); The Visitation (Luke 1:39–56); The Nativity (Luke 2:1–21); The Presentation (Luke 2:22–38); The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)

Tuesdays and Fridays:

The Sorrowful Mysteries recall Jesus’ passion and death: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–56); The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26); The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27–31); The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:32); The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33–56).

Wednesdays and Sundays:

The Glorious Mysteries focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the glories of heaven: The Resurrection (John 20:1–29); The Ascension (Luke 24:36–53); The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–41); The Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God, into heaven; The Coronation of Mary in heaven.

Thursdays:

Pope John Paul II added The Mysteries of Light, also known as the Luminous Mysteries, in 2002: The Baptism in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13–16); The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1–11); The Preaching of the coming of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15); The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8); The Institution of the Holy Eucharist (Matthew 26).

At St James’, we will be saying a mystery of the Rosary every lunch at 1:20. Please do pop in and join us.

It’s been a long-standing Catholic tradition to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May. In most Catholic churches the Lady chapel is decorated with flowers, and perhaps candles. The altar stands from May 1-31 as a reminder of Mary’s importance in the life of the Church and in our own lives as well.

Additionally, many Catholic churches and families hold a “May Crowning,” presenting Mary with a crown made of blossoms or other hand-crafted materials to signify her queenship as the mother of Christ, the King. I’ve even seen some crowns made of glistening metal and synthetic jewels.

Why is the entire month of May given to the honouring of Mary?

The tradition dates all the way back to the ancient Greeks who dedicated the month of May to Artemis, the goddess of fecundity. Romans also claimed May to honor Flora, the goddess of bloom or blossoms. They celebrated “floral games” at the end of April and petitioned Flora’s intercession for all that blooms. In medieval times, a tradition arose of expelling winter at this time of year, since May 1 was considered the start of new growth.

It was during the Middle Ages (eleventh century) that the idea of giving the month of May to Mary began with an old tradition, the “Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary”, which was originally held August 15-September 14. During the month, special devotions to Mary were organized, and this custom, which began in Italy eventually spread elsewhere.

Although we don’t see Mary as a goddess of any sort – Catholics do not worship Mary, we honour, or venerate, her as Jesus’ mother – we’ve adapted the early Greek and Roman customs of honouring important women in their religions by honouring the most important woman in our religion: Mary.

Here are five reasons why it makes sense for you to honour Mary this month.

1. Mary is Jesus’ mother. She is the instrument of the Incarnation and her yes, or fiat, made it possible for our Lord to become the God-Man who was Crucified for our salvation.

2. She is the first and most perfect disciple. Mary was the first to hear the Good News, and the first to follow Christ. Her entire life was devoted to him and assisting him, in whatever way she could, to carry on his mission. Unaffected by Original Sin, she was able to perfectly open herself to God’s will.

3. She’s your Mum. No, really. She is. To put it simply, she’s our mother because we are all members of the Body of Christ. Since she gave birth to that Body, then she’s our mother, too. At the moment she gave her fiat, she became our mother in the order of grace. She may not have given birth to us physically, but she certainly has given birth to us spiritually. (Check out CCC #964)

4. She loves you more than you can ever imagine. If she didn’t, would she have endured the horror of seeing her Son tortured, scourged, crowned with thorns, carry the Cross to Calvary, and die a gruesome death on it? She did it for you, for all of us, because she understood that Jesus’ Passion and Crucifixion was the only way to your (our) salvation. She loves you like no human mother ever could.

5. Not only is she Mother, but she also is Advocate, Helper, Benefactress and Mediatrix (CCC #969). Her job, so to speak, began at the moment she conceived Jesus in her womb and continues until this day. What’s more, it will continue for all eternity. As the first and most perfect disciple, she is devoted to accompanying him and continuing her saving office by interceding for us so that we may receive the gifts of eternal salvation. She’s at work 24/7/365/forever, for whatever we need, whenever we need it.

At St James’ we will be saying the rosary every morning at 8:10am in the Chapel. Why not come and join us.

Basic Rosary Guide

At the crucifix, begin with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles Creed.

On the first large bead say the Our Father

Followed by three Hail Marys. It is customary to say “I offer these three Hail Marys for the increase in the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

Faith – pray to increase your faith in God

Hope – pray for a deeper desire and hope for heaven

Charity – pray to have a deeper love for your neighbours

Then say one Glory Be prayer

Now you are at the medal that joins the beads.

Here announce any prayer intentions you have.

Then announce the first Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful or Glorious Mystery depending upon what mysteries you are meditating on this particular day.

At this point you may read a meditation or look at a picture of the mystery that will aid in your meditation.

Then begin the decade with one Our Father all the while keeping hold of the medal.

On the ten small beads that follow pray ten Hail Marys.

Followed by one Glory Be Prayer.

Then the Fatima Prayer.

When you come to the large bead, announce the second respective mystery, look at a meditation aid then pray one Our Father.

On the ten small beads pray another set of ten Hail Marys followed by one Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer called a decade, as before.

Continue this pattern of announcing the mystery and praying a decade. Do this for the third, fourth and fifth mystery consecutively followed by one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer.

After the fifth and final decade has been prayed, after the Fatima Prayer, pray theHail Holy Queen prayer.

It is customary to finish the Rosary prayers with the “Let us Pray” prayer from the Breviary followed by the Saint Michael Prayer.